This summer we all witnessed either in person or on the news, the horrific actions of those who side with the far right. As a company who provide workspace to many organisations who support refugees, we were upset that many of our tenants found themselves the threats of such violent attacks, and were careful to not make any mention of them at the time as they were fearful that providing details or even an indication of where they were based would put them in danger.
With the pushback against far-right violence having been what it was, we’re proud to stand up and say that our buildings are welcoming places for refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants, as well as the organisations who support people in these situations.
When working in an Ethical Property centre, you quickly become used to being in an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome regardless of age, race, or disability. But the violence reminded us that of course - this isn't always the case for minority groups, such as refugees and asylum seekers. And it must mean so much to those seeking safety, when they finally find a place where they are made to feel that they belong.
This made us really proud of all the work that goes on to help refugees in Ethical Property buildings, and made us question what more we can do to create welcoming spaces.
There's so much work going on to support refugees in our buildings at the moment - and not just from the organisations that work explicitly in that sector, but by other social justice organisations whose work overlaps with the kinds of challenges that asylum seekers and refugees are encountering in the UK.
For example:
- Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming
is an organisation that campaigns about food system issues, yet they have recently launched a campaign to draw attention to the food poverty that people seeking asylum in London are encountering. You can read their report and recommendations here: https://www.sustainweb.org/reports/mar24-food-experiences-of-people-seeking-asylum-in-london/
- Housing Justice
is a hugely influential organisation campaigning about homelessness, and they have recently launched the 'Refugee Lodgings Project' in London, in response to the crisis facing newly recognised refugees, who don't have the time or support they need to find a permanent home after being made to leave Home Office accommodation. (Read all about it here: Refugee Lodgings – Housing Justice).
And then of course, there are those tenants who work almost exclusively to support refugees (not all listed below):
- Safe Passage – an absolutely amazing refugee rights campaigning organisation! Follow them here - Safe Passage 🧡 (@safepassageuk) • Instagram photos and videos
- Refugee Resource - who offer therapeutic resources to support refugees with their mental health
- Migrant Help - specifically support migrants who have been victims of modern slavery
- Microrainbow - who support refugees fleeing persecution due to their sexuality.
And while we are only a workspace provider, it is a crucial part of our mission to create truly welcoming spaces for anyone, in particular those who need it most.
At the moment, we do this by:
- Having a zero-tolerance policy towards any kind of racist or hateful speech
- Making our buildings fully accessible to people with any kinds of accessibility needs
- Making sure that there are always halal meat options at Ethical Property events
- Always welcoming organisations to our buildings that are trying to make a positive difference
As an antidote to places where an anti-migration narrative is upheld, we hope that our buildings can become places where refugees feel truly welcome.